Beloved wildlife expert Sir David Attenborough has opened up about being in the twilight years of his life as he prepares to celebrate his 99th birthday on May 9
Sir David Attenborough has opened up about his life and mortality ahead of his 99th birthday.
The beloved wildlife expert and host of nature docs such as the BBC’s Planet Earth has shared his thoughts on life and death during his latest documentary – Ocean – focusing on the world’s waters. As he approaches his 99th birthday on May 9, the broadcaster said that he is ‘nearing the end of his life’.
Sir David, who has been on screens for decades, said that in nearly 100 years on this planet, he’s realised that the most important place on Earth is the sea, not the land. The national treasure has admitted he’s found it hard not to lose hope over the state of the environment.
He made these heartfelt admissions ahead of the release of his doc which will air on Disney+ and Hulu later this year. Sir David said: “When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity.
“Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true. After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.,” he said.
Revealing his deep concerns over the ocean’s deteriorating condition, he continued: “Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all.”
However, Sir David has stayed optimistic about humankind saving the sea. He maintained: “If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.’
Attenborough’s reflections in the doc is paired with historical footage, including scenes from 1957 when he first scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef. Sir David Attenborough hopes that by protecting marine reserves where fishing is prohibited, the ocean’s ecosystem can recover.
“The ocean can recover faster than we can ever imagine: it can bounce back to life,” he said. But the nature expert warns us that time is running out.
Sir David has raised awareness for the environmental challenges facing the world for years during his docs, and contributed to the development of initiatives aimed at protecting endangered species. It’s not his first foray into the ocean either as he’s narrated the BBC’s Blue Planet.
The 98 year old broadcaster said: “The world would be in a far, far worse situation now had there been no broadcasting of natural history. People have found it a source of fascination, beauty, and interest, which has become key to looking after the world.”
In an interview with the Telegraph, David said that he was “coming to terms” with the fact that finding the right words takes longer and that you can “run into problems”, as evidenced by his struggle to recall the name of a plant in front of him.
Toby Nowlan, one of Ocean’s three directors, who also produced the doc, said: “There is an element of wake-up call, but really it’s a story of hope and recovery.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
